The distributed antenna system (DAS) nodes, in general, are very small and compact, and are utilized to increase the range and capacity of cellular networks in areas with very low or no coverage. The DAS systems installed inside the facilities (such as buildings) are indoor DAS (iDAS), whereas the DAS systems installed outside are known as outdoor DAS (oDAS). The global distributed antenna system market is estimated to be USD 8.21 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 13.74 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period. The growth of this market is driven by the increasing mobile data traffic, proliferation of connected devices due to the Internet of Things (IoT), rising need of spectrum efficiency, and growing consumer demand for extended network coverage and uninterrupted connectivity.

The distributed antenna system market is witnessing a lot of technological advancements. Companies have started prioritizing the need to provide enhanced cellular coverage. For example, in February 2018, Cobham Wireless announced the integration of virtualized radio access networks (vRAN) capabilities with intelligent digital distributed antenna system (idDAS), which would reduce the capital expenditure and operational expenditure.

iDAS are expected to hold a larger share of the overall distributed antenna system market during the forecast period. The major factors contributing to the growth of the market for iDAS is the increasing demand from various consumers for continuous connectivity and emergence of the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) concept.

The distributed antenna system for neutral-host ownership is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of during the forecast period. The neutral-host models lead to the shift in the ownership of the system from carrier to building owners, distributed antenna system integrators, or third-party systems. An independent, third-party host manages financial, legal, regulatory, and technical responsibilities, including the deployment, installation, and maintenance of distributed antenna system.

The market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during 2018–2023. The growth is attributed to the increasing number of devices connected with the advanced technologies such as IoT and machine-to-machine communication. Further, the increasing number of smartphone users, rising penetration of high-speed internet connectivity, and rapid urbanization are the major factors contributing to the growth of the distributed antenna system market in this region.